Crazy for Katniss March 8, 2012
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I get scared more easily than almost anyone you’ve ever met.
I had nightmares about Ursula, the evil, creepy sea lady from The Little Mermaid, when I was little. Actually, I was still scared of her when I hit double digits. To be fair, I still find her frightening.
I’m not scared of spiders even slightly, but her tentacles make me want to stand on top of a washing machine and scream.
I also have a habit of talking through nearly every scary movie. I am not, however, debating the fine points of the plot, but, rather, trying to distract myself from clawing my fingernails into whoever I am sitting next to. Of course, I’ve probably already bitten my fingernails off from fright at this point.
Growing up, I always asked to share a room. I can’t remember where the fear of sleeping alone in a room started, but neither of my sisters enjoyed this much. Let’s just say my sister Stacy often would sleep with two sweatshirts on.
My ability to be easily scared has proved to be surprising recently: I have been reading The Hunger Games and, like much of America, I have gotten completely wrapped up. The premise of the story is brutal. The story takes place a few hundred years from now, during a time where North America is completely obliterated. The Capitol, who is in control, has divided the area into 12 districts (once 13, but District 13 is in ruins) and forces every district to send one boy and girl (called “tributes”) to compete in “The Hunger Games.” The boys and girls (aged from 12-18) are selected based on a lottery system.
Only this is a lottery that no one desires to win.
The Capitol treats “The Hunger Games” as a glorified Olympics. The people in charge stay glued to their TVs and bet on the victor. There is an elaborate opening ceremony, and several prizes for the winner. However, no one dreams of taking part, and the results leave most in agony. The reason? The tributes fight to the death in the event, and only one of the 24 survives.
I love reading nearly anything—I sure would hope so, being an English teacher!—yet let’s just say this book wasn’t on my “must-read” list when I first heard about it. During high school anatomy class, I received an alternative assignment when my class viewed a surgery on a TV during class because I was so squeamish that my teacher was afraid I was going to be sick during class.
Yet I have gotten completely wrapped up in the brutal games. The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is a great female heroine. I don’t want to say much more, because the experience is far better simply if you read it. I really hope that the movie does her story justice.
The story has something that everyone can enjoy—even those who typically hate reading. Even those, who, like me, sometimes cringe when I see dolls because they remind me of Chucky.
Have you read The Hunger Games? What did you think?
The strangest products you’ve ever seen February 28, 2012
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I have always been a sucker for infomercials. I used to be unable to fall asleep when I was younger, and the only thing that could cure me was the sweet lull of ladies named Sally who could somehow sweetly convince you to buy a carton of cat food—even if you didn’t actually own a cat.
Although I’ve purchased a few products from infomercials that I regretted immediately afterward, I enjoyed infomercials mostly for their ridiculousness. Whenever I discover a new strange product, I get a little giddy. I’m not talking “snuggie” strange—I mean products that don’t keep you warm, but rather, make you wonder who in the world would ever purchase this. I recently discovered a few that literally made me laugh out loud. If you stumble upon anyone with any of these items, please contact me. Immediately.
- I can’t say I’ve ever fantasized about having facial hair. However, if I did, I’d want it to look exactly like this.
- This could be perhaps be my favorite invention EVER. Who needs friends to laugh with these days when you can simply buy a box of applause?!
- I enjoy get a bit of sun as much as the next person. However, I can’t say that I’ve ever panicked about my feet being pale. Nor have I imagined spending 3 easy payments of $79 in order to have tanned toes.
- Who needs jewelry when you can wear wine on your neck?
What are some of the strangest products you’ve ever seen? Have you ever purchased any of these products?
Full House Flashback February 13, 2012
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Growing up, I was obsessed with the show Full House. I wanted to be Michelle, and practiced music videos like this one in attempts to do so.
[I wanted nothing more than to raid their costume collection. I was a particularly big fan of the daisy hat]
I also wanted to marry Uncle Jesse, despite the fact that he was about 2o+ years older than me, had a mullet, lived in his relative’s attic rather than owning his own house, and didn’t graduate high school. The fact that he could sing and smile made me forget his other flaws.
["Forever" became one that my friend Allie and I became mesmerized with and later memorized]
Basically, I wanted to move the entire family from San Francisco to the Southside of Chicago, minus Kimmy Gibler. I never understood why DJ could stand being friends with her for so long, when she really didn’t bring anything to the table other than smelly feet and a hefty appetite.
I’ve watched every episode WAY more times than I should admit, and was honestly afraid that when I grew up I would somehow accidentally drive a car into my parent’s kitchen. Although, with my parking skills, I should probably not speak too soon. Yet one of my favorite episodes was when the Tanner family got a chance to sing onstage with the Beach Boys.
[I thought Stephanie and DJ had fabulous voices and sense of style back then. I wish I were kidding.]
I was reminded of that classic combination when watching the Grammy’s yesterday. Various artists belted out Beach Boy classics, and I couldn’t help but wish that Jesse and the Rippers would have had a Kokomo-style comeback.
Did you grow up watching Full House?
Beiber, Ludacris, Elvis and…Interjections? February 11, 2012
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When sharing music tastes with someone, I always say that I like “everything.” My students never believe me when I say this, and quiz me on whether I like Lil’ Wayne and Nicki Minaj (their current idols). The answer: Yes, and yes. I also sometimes think I can rap like Nicki Minaj when driving alone in the car.
The statement that I like “everything” is 99% true. Let’s just say that you will never catch me singing Slipnot, and that I’d prefer listening to the Offspring over Opera any day.
I really thought that this song was pretty fly when it first came out…and MAY have just played this multiple times while posting this.
However, my ridiculous 29 stations on Pandora prove that I will literally listen to almost anything, including a few embarrassing selections. Let’s just say that Schoolhouse Rock provided some serious entertainment (and sometimes, instruction) when writing essays in college.
I may not be able to recall much about the Revolutionary War, but I can easily recite the Preamble thanks to this sweet song.
Here is proof that my musical tastes are more random than some of Nicki Minaj’s raps:
- Dance Cardio Radio
- 80s Cardio Radio
- Michael Buble (Holiday edition) Radio
- Jack’s Mannequin Radio
- Dave Matthews Radio
- Lady Gaga Radio
- Justin Bieber Radio
- Today’s Hits Radio
- Classic Rock Radio
- Today’s Adult Hits Radio
- Eric Clapton Radio
- All I Want For Christmas Radio
- Elvis Presley Radio
- Bob Dylan Radio
- Straight No Chaser Radio
- Ludacris Radio
- Puddle of Mudd Radio
- American Idol Finalist Radio
- Schoolhouse Rock Radio
- Jack Johnson Radio
- Lady Antebellum Radio
- Ok Go Radio
- Nelly Radio
- Michael Buble Radio
- Glee Cast Radio
- Will Smith Radio
- Britney Spears Radio
- Taylor Swift Radio
- Johnny Cash Radio
What is your favorite type of music? Are there any types that you hate?
The Worst Movie You’ve Ever Seen February 9, 2012
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In my Creative Writing class, we begin many days with a journal prompt. These are casual, opinionated 5-minute exercises that are typically connected to the days topic, somehow, and that (hopefully) spark some creative thinking before working on longer pieces.
I’ve learned an array of random information from these exercises, like that I have a student that owns a 120-pound bulldog (allegedly) and that some students would rather eat a cooked squirrel than a banana (seriously).
Today’s topic was “What is the worst movie (or book, or TV show) you’ve ever seen? What made you dislike it so much?”
I never realized how that comparing movies could cause such intense arguments.
One student said that her least favorite was Space Jam, a response that nearly caused me and my students to start a riot. I was more than a little obsessed with Space Jam growing up. I was into The Looney Tunes (for obvious reasons–but let’s just say I took my last name a bit too far and possessed a jean jacket with a massive “Looney Tunes” patch on the back), and basketball. Combining the cartoon characters and the miraculous Michael Jordan was, in my mind, the best match since Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.
There were a range of hated picks, including a few that were other’s favorites like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Paranormal Activity, and Jersey Shore. However, my favorite hated pick was one from a student named Caleb. The movie was called Rubber, which was a movie about a killer tire. The premise of that was too bad to not play the trailer in class immediately. Please watch this trailer to enjoy how terrifically terrible it is:
What is the worst movie you’ve ever seen?
Target-obsessed February 6, 2012
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I have a serious obsession with a terrific place called Target.
I know that mine and Target’s relationship is toxic. Target drains me from all of my money, and convinces me through its miraculous marketing to purchase plenty of things that I neither need or, oftentimes, even know how to use. Every time I shop at Target, I write a short list, trying to show the store that I have complete control, and am only going to pay it a quick visit. I will walk out with strictly the necessary items, and nothing more.
Yet the minute that I see its bright lights and welcoming floor spread, I am instantly hooked. I end up with enough food to feed a football team. I purchase items that I “need” immediately, like mascara or gum, when in reality, I already have several stowed away for safe keeping.
I sometimes end up with items that I’m certain will be successful, and end up failing miserably. Like the time I purchased “fast-acting self tanner” made for “tan skin tones” at Target in the dead of winter, and ended up with skin that looked like a Tiger and hands that looked like a leopard, only in both cases, the black stripes were replaced by white.
The most embarrassing are the times that Target cleverly convinces me to buy the item without even reading the label. This is how I ended up with a Maternity tank top, and a large laundry detergent strictly for high-efficiency machines. Let’s just say that I don’t have use for either of those.
You know that you’re in it for the long hall when you recognize when there are new workers, know the food sample schedule by heart, and would bet your income that you could win a Price is Right contest on any food item from the store.
Do you like shopping at Target? Do you spend too much time at any store?
Lost…and sometimes found February 4, 2012
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I’ve probably lost more items than the amount of clothes the Kardashians own. I’ve also gotten lost more times than Kim has vowed that her feelings for Kris were “real.”
(I’ve also clearly lost track of keeping up with this blog, but let’s just pretend that didn’t happen).
There are a few things that commonly occur whenever I misplace an item.
1.) I panic.
2.) I search frantically in the same spot for several seconds, and then make that small spot look like it got hit by a tsunmai, or, at the very least, some serious turbulence.
3.) In my frantic search, I lose other items in the process.
4.) Repeat step 1.
5.) I begin talking myself through finding the item, which then recruits whoever happens to be nearby to join in my search–possibly because I sound slightly crazy uttering things like “Where did I put that?!” or “Seriously, I JUST had it!” [Yes, this sometimes ends up being a stranger assisting me].
6.) The assistant finds my item either A.) Right in front of me or B.) In my hand.
There are several embarrassing situations where I’ve lost something. I’ve “lost” my keys in my own hand more times than I can count. I’ve “lost” my keys when they are actually in my car (with me sitting in it).
Yesterday, I thought I lost my Teacher’s Edition textbook. I brought the large, orange book into my 3rd period class. My class saw me sit it down while I went into another room where I accidentally left my swords and shields.
[A sidenote: Those are for Romeo and Juliet, and they are critical. Even though they may have caused a student to cry a little bit, and their teacher to decide that there was no way her students would get to fight without her joining].
Anyway, when I came back, my book was gone. I swore I still had it in class. My entire class started a search party, and some were even sweet enough to volunteer to contribute some money to pay for the missing book (!). We turned into a 23-person search party (22 14-and-15 year olds and their teacher).
You know who was the weakest link.
I mentioned it to a few students in my 6th hour, and then the search party began again. They know me well enough to know my track record for losing items so, like a mother would do to their child, they asked me questions like: “Ms. Looney, are you SURE you didn’t bring it back to your office?” “Ms. Looney, are you SURE you looked everywhere?” “Ms. Looney, are you SURE you didn’t let someone borrow it?”
“I’m positive!” I replied to every question. I went through the day, assured that I would be several hundred dollars deep to pay for my book.
Where did the item turn up? In my office. My pupils/pseudo parents will clearly give me a big “I told you so!”
Do you lose things easily?
Things Students Say October 13, 2011
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I may not be keeping this up weekly (as I originally intended), but that doesn’t mean that I’m all out of awkward student sayings. I think that some of the students may be more gullible than me. Please enjoy a few of my favorites:
[At Cross-Country practice]: “Coach Looney, thank you so much for coaching us each day. Especially since you drive everyday all the way from Chicago!”
A sidenote: If I did in fact commute from Chicago, I would have to leave for work every morning at around 1:30 AM to make it work on time. I’m pretty sure my entire salary would also be spent on gas.
[During 6th period Freshman English]: We were reading a story and the students had to use clues in the text to determine the time period. After they figured out that the story took place in the 1950s/1960s, one student asked:
“Ms. Looney, were you alive in the 1950s?” (This student is also one of my most advanced, and said it with 100% seriousness).
[During 3rd period Freshman English, while brainstorming different examples of stereotypes]: The students came up with an array of examples, including ones about women being in the kitchen, blondes being dumb, black people liking fried chicken, and, my favorite of the day “Iowa has cowboys and Indians.”
If you know a place in Iowa that has cowboys, please give me a call. My camera would be certain to come.
[During 5th period Yearbook]: (Senior girl) “I got blocked from Facebook.” (Me) “How did you get banned?” (Senior girl): “I added too many people as friends, so Facebook thought I was spamming them.”
What did she do when she was released from her ban? She began adding boys who were “hot” from Yearbooks around the country that we were looking at. She is currently “friends” with former students from a high school in California.
Contests and Cruises September 30, 2011
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When it comes to contests, I never come close.
I was always given a “head start” at Easter egg hunts because my sisters would find several eggs before I found a single one. Even with a handicap, I still had a hard time. It wasn’t until my sisters were finished, had already eaten several pieces of candy, and my entire family had to coax me with “hotter” and “colder” clues that I encountered any eggs.
Let’s not talk about the numerous times I’ve searched for my cell phone or keys. The most embarrassing time was when I spent several minutes searching for my keys…only to find them in my hand. I wish I were kidding.
I’m even worse at contests that you enter. I never would do the “Guess how many jelly beans are in the jar?” because I would guess something like “50″ when in reality, there were 5,000.
I have never won a contest that I’ve entered. Ever. Until yesterday…sort of.
I received a phone call from what sounded like a male, who did not specify the name of his company when he called. Our conversation simply went like this:
Person on the Phone (POTP): “Hello, Kristin! Did you go to Country Thunder a few months ago?”
Me: “Ah, yes?”
POTP: “Well, from going there, you have won a free cruise! As long as you come to claim your prize, that is.” [He also discussed many details of this prize, which I couldn't really understand because I was simply too excited to hear the mix of "won" "cruise" and "Kristin" together].
Me: “Wait, I WON?!”
POTP: “Yes, as long as you come to Downer’s Grove to claim your prize!”
Me: “Well, er, I actually live in Iowa.” [For those who don't know, Downer's Grove is a Chicago suburb].
POTP: “You do? Well, what do you do there?”
Me: “I’m a high school teacher.”
[This is where the conversation started to get strange].
POTP: “You are? But you sound so young!”
Me: “Well, er, I’m 24…”
POTP: “My husband and I have two kids…aged 11 and 9. I bet you get all kinds of attention being a young teacher. My kids have had some of their older teachers replaced by younger ones and, well, you know! Those high school boys!”
[Keep in mind that this person did not have a feminine voice. Although I was initially intrigued by the cruise, I was now just as eager to uncover this person's identity].
Me: “Well, er, things are going well so far!”
POTP: “What grades do you teach?”
Me: “Well, all of high school…”
At this point, I was wondering 1.) The name of this person to figure out his or her gender and 2.) When we were going to get back to my cruise information?
After talking about teaching for an uncomfortably awkward amount of time, the person on the phone eventually explained that a family member could pick up my prize if they wished, which included a 3 night/2 people cruise and airfare. The person also revealed his name to be “Deann,” which I’ve never actually heard as a male name.
I hung up just as perplexed about this potential trip as the identity of this person.
Have you ever “won” something? Has your prize been serious, or did it turn out to be a sham?
Why I’m a Runner September 27, 2011
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I remember one of the first times I ran. My dad, a lifelong runner, would often go on runs around the neighborhood. I didn’t understand why. Running around in circles without holding onto a ball or a bat, or shooting into a goal or hoop seemed strange to my 7-year-old self.
I did know that I had alot of energy, had trouble ever falling asleep, and asked alot of questions. For all of these reasons, when I asked my parents “Can I please run with dad?” they didn’t object.
I think they preferred me doing something productive to hopefully get me to stop doing gymnastics in our living room, start sleeping, and prevent them from pretending that they knew exactly why the sky was blue.
The first time I laced up my running shoes, it was hard. Really, really hard. So hard that I vowed that the only way that I would do it again would be if it was part of another sport that made sense to me, like soccer or basketball. A sport where running led to a goal or basket, rather than a simple high-five or “Way to go!”
But, just a few days later, I did it again. Then, a few days after that, again. A few months later, I signed up for a race: A one-miler. It was not easy, and I was not fast.
What I was? A determined girl who loved a challenge. Each year, I ran that same race, trying to run it just a little faster.
I replaced running for quite a few years. Other than running that race—specifically, the Ridge Run—I played other sports instead. It wasn’t until my freshmen year in high school that I became a “runner” again.
I became a runner again because of the same reason: I was a determined girl who loved a challenge. My high school was small, and no one wanted to run distance. I didn’t, either. I believed a mile was “too far,” and wanted to long jump. [A side note: If you've ever seen me attempt to jump over a puddle, you know that me as a long jumper is laughable].
However, I couldn’t say no to my coach and agreed to do distance. It was still hard. But, again, I was still a determined girl who loved a challenge. Every race, I worked at decreasing my time. And, every race, I fell more in love. I loved that you could put in the work and get results. I loved that you were doing something that others found slightly crazy. Even more, I loved that incredible feeling when you crossed the finish line…especially when you received a personal record (PR).
I also loved that you burned enough calories to eat many cookies.
My love of running eventually lead me to run at Drake University and, later, complete the Chicago Marathon and run many other races. My 7-year-old self would have thought running 26.2 miles for fun was absolutely insane. The day after the race, I agreed.
In many ways, I am similar to my seven-year-old self. I still sometimes have an energy overload. Sleeping is still sometimes a struggle. I still love (asking) questions. Yet, in others, I’m different. I hardly ever question the reason why I run. As in the popular Nike saying, I “Just do it.”
But, today, I thought about the reason. I’m currently coaching High School Girl’s Cross-Country, and the girls had an incredibly tough workout (12 400s) in incredibly tough conditions (so windy and rainy you could hardly see). Many of them were struggling.
But, as soon as it was over, they were smiling.
I run exactly for that reason.
Are you a runner? Do you feel similar about another sport?
